Improvement in gates for railway-crossings



E; RIDGE.

Yizl'tes for Railway Crossings. N0,l52,4.15l l 5 F'atented'J-un'e 23,117574.

I sv l @Z/wf [WWW/figg@ moan UNTE'E STATES PATENT CDEEIcEo ELMER RIDGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AMOS H. TAYLOR, AND ISAAC C. SIIALLOROSS, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN GATES FOR RAILWAY-CROSSINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,415, dated June 23, 1874; application filed April 18, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER RIDGE, of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Gate for Railroad-Crossings, of which the following .is a specific-ation:

In the accom panying drawing, Figure 1 repy resents a top view of my improved gate for railroad-crossings; Fig. 2, a sectional side clevation of the same as thrown up; and Fig. 3, a side elevation, showing it folded down to a level with the track for the passage of vehicles.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

lhe object of my invention is to construct an improved gate for railroad-crossin gs, which may be rapidly and easily thrown into position on the approach of a train, for preventing the passage of vehicles or persons over the track, and instantly folded out of the way after the train has passed, being simple in con struction and effective in operation.

The invention will first be fully described, and then pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing, A represents the railroadtrack, which is arranged at both sides of a crossing', with gates B hun g to side standards O, for closing the track and preventing the crossing of vehicles or persons. Each gate B folds down into a recess or cavity of the ground, of suitable depth and width, in such a manner that the broader top piece B of the gate closes the cavity completely, and prevents thereby the entering of dirt or other obstructions. The recessed ends of top piece B slide in suitable guide-grooves of the standards O, top piece B being supported, when in alevel position with the road, on side plates or traine-pieces b ot' wood, metal, or similar material. Top piece B is provided at its under side, and at suitable distances from each other, with lugs d, which connect, by intermediate pivoted rods c and elbow-lever rods f, fulcrumed between side plates b, with longitudinal rods g, -of which one is pivoted to the ends of one set of elbowlevers j', while the other is pivoted to the alternate set of the same. The longitudinal rods g are applied, by intermediate links gf, with a double crank, h, keyed to the end ot' lateral shaft Z, which connects the gates B under the track, and is provided with a central lever-handle, m, operated by the brakeman or other attendant. The lateral shaft l turns in suitable bearings, and raises the gate by being turned in one direction, lowering the saine by being turned in opposite direction. For facilitating the operation ot' raising' and lowering, the gate is properly balanced by means of chains n, attached to the top piece B', and passing' over pulleys n of standards O to weights o. Weights o are guided between the rear iiangcs of the standards, and kept thereby in regularposition.

Vhen the gate is folded down into the recess of the road, the pivoted rods are spread in longitudinal direction, as shown in Fig. 3; but when the gate is raised for closing off the track the rods assume a nearly vertical position, like a railing or balustrade, and prevent thereby the crossing of the track.

The simplicity and ready handling of the gates nia-ke it very useful for railroad companies, and decreases the danger otl accidents occurring at railroad-crossings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The improved gate for railroad-crossings, consisting of the balanced folding gates B, placed parallel to the track into recesses ot' thek ground, and hung to side standards O, combined with connecting 1everrod and lateral crank-shaft with lever-handle, for being simultaneously operated, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

ELMER RIDGE.

IVitnesses WM. B. HILL, PETER CUsToR. 

